Inventory and map the distribution, abundance and critical habitat needs
of rare, threatened and endangered amphibian and reptile species in the Vermont portion of the Lake ChamplainBasin
with a focus on the following species:

distribution
of Eastern Ribbonsnake (very rare, S1)

denning sites of Eastern Ratsnakes (proposed for threatened status)

feeding ranges
of Timber Rattlesnakes (endangered)

distribution
and abundance of Five-lined Skink (endangered)

important turtle
habitat along Lake Champlain (all species).

distribution
and abundance of Mudpuppies (S2, species of special concern)

Eastern Racer
distribution and abundance in the Lake Champlain basin (was thought to be extirpated in Vermont but was recently rediscovered in the Connecticut RiverValley).

Examine land use history and its effects on vernal
pool-breeding amphibian occurrence/productivity (e.g. do pools with different
land use histories support different assemblages of amphibians and/or
productivity).

Map potential vernal pool locations using large scale color infrared
aerial photographs and verify occurrence through ground-truthing
on public/conservation lands within the basin

Birds

Continued monitoring of Neotropical Migrant Landbird
populations.

Investigate avian breeding populations in forest
habitat patches of different sizes, configurations, and connectivity in the ChamplainValley, using FBMP (Forest Bird Monitoring Program) sites as a baseline.

Fish

Study the movement patterns of wide-ranging
fish species in Lake Champlain.

Research the potential to install barriers
to aquatic species movements, including in and out of Lake Champlain to the sea.Includes barrier design, feasibility and cost/benefit analysis of
various designs.

Trophic dynamics - how are the fish species and their
relative abundances changing in Lake Champlain?

Invasive
and Nuisance Species, Control Methods and Impacts of Controlling Them

A literature review and modeling project addressing
are the ecological consequences of the potential introduction of alewife to Lake Champlain.

A Genetic analysis of Sea Lamprey in the Lake
Champlain basin.Are they native?If so, why are they more of a problem now
than they were fifty years ago?

Test alternative Sea Lamprey
control techniques in Lake
Champlain tributaries.Use this data to further build the sea
lamprey population viability model.

Long-term monitoring of rare, threatened, and endangered species
(distribution and abundance) in streams treated with lampricides.

Advance cormorant work with population
viability analysis and management techniques in the same way as the sea lamprey
to get at the same fundamental question - why is this native species now super
abundant?

Survey and map for the entire basin the most
and least infested places for a host of invasive species (both aquatic and
terrestrial).

B.B.Interdisiplinary
Research

An investigation of mercury levels and effects of
calcium depletion in forest thrushes along an elevational
gradient. Despite
well-documented negative impacts of elevated methylmercury
(MeHg) toxicity on wildlife populations, few data
exist on mercury burdens in terrestrial, migratory passerine birds.
Preliminary data from montane-fir forests in the Green Mountains suggest that MeHg levels
in Bicknell's Thrush and 3 other insectivorous passerines were higher than
would be expected for a terrestrial system. In addition, calcium
depletion in forest soils due acid precipitation has been linked to declines of
Wood Thrush. A better understanding of Hg pathways and the effects of Ca
depletion within forested systems and migratory landbirds
in needed. This study would evaluate Hg levels and the effects of caciumdepeletion in forest
thrushes along an elevational gradient, sampling
Bicknell's Thrush in montane-fir forests, Swainson'sThrush in transitional
forests, Hermit and Wood Thrushes in mid-elevational
stands, and Veery in low elevation bottomland
forests.

A study investigating the
ecological and economic consequences of the potential introduction of alewife
to Lake Champlain.In combination with a literature
review/modeling of ecological consequences, sociologists/economists would
conduct an economic impact analysis.

A study of the ecological and
economic impacts of selected invasive species in the Lake Champlain Basin, and
development of effective education strategies drawing on the expertise of
ecologists, economists, educators and marketing specialists.